Art Explorer #6: Cross Stitch with Scissors

Art Word of the Week: Design/Composition

For this week’s blog I didn’t want to choose a word to go “with scissors” that was cliché or typical in any way. I wanted to think of something that I have done that is creative and original and I finally came up with something. What I have chosen is “cross stitch” or also known as needlepoint. To some people this may not seem like art of any kind but I take great pride in the cross stitches that I have completed as they take a great deal of time and patience. They can be very personal as I have made many as gifts for family and friends and I also have on that was made for my from my mothers, a birth announcement. 

My birth announcement made by my mother.

Materials Needed:

- Cross stitch fabric

- Thread

- Cross stitch pattern

- Scissors

- Needle

Steps for Cross Stitch:

#1: Choose colour of threat that you wish to start using.

#2: Look at pattern and match appropriate symbols for that particular colour to where the symbol is on the pattern.

#3: Feed thread onto needle

#4: Create “X” in each square on fabric for each square required for that particular colour.

#5: Continue to create the “X’s” for that colour according to the pattern.

#6: Repeat steps 1-5 for every colour required until cross stitch is complete. 

The art word for this week is design/composition, which is, in this textbook described as “anything and everything young children create in art” (Schirrmacher & Fox, 2009, p. 142). Design and composition in art attempt to meet such requirements as compiling line, shape, colours texture and form as a whole and having the finished product impart sense of overall order, coherence, equilibrium and organization (Schirrmacher & Fox, 2009, p. 142). To me, design is important when looking at a cross stitch and they definitely meet all those aspects as there is order and equilibrium (with a pattern) but also line, shape and colour, with the thread and also the pattern for the finished design. The design is the essence of the cross stitch because of how it looks like and the way it is put together is what you’re trying to achieve. 

Doing cross stitches is definitely something that I take pride in and that I really enjoy doing. I really do not involve myself with arts & crafts very much but completing a cross stitch is something I love to do. My mother introduced me to them when I was a young girl, probably in elementary school. I started out with small patterns. I remember my mom teaching me how to do them and when I completed one and showed her, she was so proud and gave me wonderful compliments. I gradually became more confident doing them and eventually started making them as gifts for people.

I will always have a love for doing them. I definitely love putting the time it takes to complete them and then seeing the reactions of the people I give them to as gifts, how happy and appreciative they are. I always feel proud and accomplished, even if I have made one for myself. Like I said earlier, completing art projects is not really something that describes me but I feel this piece of art is something that describes me and that I am confident in doing successfully. 

Schirrmacher, R., & Fox, J. E. (2009). Art & Creative Development for Young Children. Clifton  Park, NY: Thomson Delmar Learning.

Art Explorer #5: Watch an ‘Art Film’ & Chat About It

Art Word of the Week: Surrealism

As we had five movies to choose from, my movie choice for the week was Donnie Darko. We were told to watch an ‘art film’ with our peers and then discuss the film in any way we saw fit. It was somewhat easy for me to choose this film, as I had never watched it before this viewing. I have seen two of the movies on the list but decided I wanted to watch a film that was new and fresh to me and that I could critique with a clean slate.

Although I have heard of this film before I was unsure of the plot line and did not really know what to expect. However, after watching the trailer of the film in class I was further intrigued and interested in what this movie would bring to the table.

Donnie Darko is an extremely dark and twisted film about a teenage boy who is very troubled and hears voices regularly and has hallucinations of an awfully scary looking rabbit who he calls Frank. His friend Frank tells him to do things - bad things – that hurt destroy things and hurt others around him. Throughout the film, Donnie struggles with the voices that he hears from Frank, his family and the new girl that he is interested in, Gretchen. He goes back and forth with trying to work through his problems and as the movie progresses we quickly learn that he is being told something very important by the bunny and that he needs to make some changes in order for things to go a different way...

Everyone that I spoke to about this film seemed to have different opinions and ideas about what may or may not have happened, which allows people’s perspectives to be a very prominent aspect the discussion. Everyone has their own ideas and beliefs about everything that occurs around them, which allows people to have their own perspectives. To me, though, it seems pretty obvious about what happens at the end of the film or perhaps what the movie makers’ message is that they are trying to get across to the audience. But others may interpret the plot another way because of what they personally believe or how they see things in the world.

Another way of looking at this film is saying it is surrealism, which is “creating a magical, dreamlike world that is more intense than reality” (Schirrmacher & Fox, 2009, p. 204). This film definitely shows “dreams images, fantasies and the subconscious are chosen as subject matter and portrayed either realistically or abstractly” (Schirrmacher & Fox, 2009, p. 204).Donnie Darko is a dark and twisted film that really makes you think deeply about the meaning and what is really happening or not happening.

Donnie Darko, to me, is definitely surreal as it leaves the audience to interpret it their own way and what was really happening and why. Everyone has their own perspectives about this film but it unquestionably gives the viewers a great deal of information an plot lines to think about and digest in order to decipher what the final conclusions for the characters and the story line is. I was pleased with this film and is allowed me to think in depth about all aspects and at the same time, kept me entertained, thinking how things were happening and wondering why everything was happening. 

For myself and peers, this film was entertaining and interesting and finally decided that it has the makings to be called an 'art film'.

Schirrmacher, R., & Fox, J. E. (2009). Art & Creative Development for Young Children. Clifton  Park, NY: Thomson Delmar Learning.

Art's Explorer #4: Looking for Patterns in Urban Settings & Nature

Art Word of the Week: Pattern

For our blog this week we had to stroll around the city or our neighbourhood and find patterns of any kind that were embedded in nature or urban settings around us. Patterns can be seen all around us and what one person may think is not a pattern may be considered a pattern to someone else with different perspectives and thoughts. Patterns can be defined as "a mark of design that is repeated in some recurring sequence" (Schirrmacher & Fox, 2009, p. 367). I definitely agree with that definition and to me, patterns are extremely interesting and surprisingly, can be around on a number of things and in many places such as, fabric for clothing, on furniture, on walls, flooring, buildings, paintings, drawings, etc.

Condo in Mississauga.

For me, patterns stand out in buildings – well architecture in general. Architecture is a great love of mine and whenever I go somewhere new that I haven’t visited before, whether it’s a new city or just to a friend’s house, I’m constantly looking at and admiring the architecture of the buildings around me. Therefore, for this blog I have chosen to scope out and take pictures of patterns that are incorporated into the architecture around the city.

The photos of the three buildings shown are just normal apartment and condominium buildings around the city. However, they are not really that “normal” to me. I cannot even say exactly how many times I have driven by these buildings but every single time I do, I always find myself turning to look at them because they stand out so much to me. They are so unique and different and some people may not have picked the buildings that I have chosen to be considered patterns but when I look at these buildings, I see beautiful, inspiring designs and patterns all over the place. Patterns in buildings, whether it's columns, windows or colours, are all aspects of patterns that make up the architecture of the building itself. Patterns can be any specific design that consist of ornate and fancy designs, symmetrical or asymmetrical and sequenced or alternating (Schirrmacher & Fox, 2009, p. 142). The pictures that I have taken of the three different buildings all acquire the characteristics of patterns that I have listed above. They are all unique in their own way and contribute to the culture and individuality of the city around us.

Apartment building in Mississauga

My love for architecture began in the middle of high school when I actually had an aspiration to become an architect. I actually took course in school and was very serious about it. I, of course, have changed my mind since then but my love for it hasn’t gone away. It still very much interests me and will forever be a topic of interest in my life. The patterns and designs that are put into architecture never fail to amaze and impress me as architects all over the world continue to push the limits of what can be designed and built in society. These three buildings continue to wow me as I drive around Mississauga and they will forever remind me of my love for architecture.

Apartment building in Mississauga.

Patterns are fascinating & wild...

Patterns are creative & subtle...

Patterns make everything unique...

Patterns are everywhere and everything.

Schirrmacher, R., & Fox, J. E. (2009). Art & Creative Development for Young Children. Clifton  Park, NY: Thomson Delmar Learning.